BA-64
Encyclopedia
The BA-64 was a 4×4 light armoured car, employed by the Soviet Army
from 1942 into the early 1960s for reconnaissance
and liaison tasks.
The BA-64B was nicknamed 'Bobik' by its crews. The total recorded number of BA-64s produced differs even in Russian sources. The most frequently-stated figures are 9,110 (3,901 BA-64 and 5,209 BA-64B) vehicles which were built in the GAZ
automobile plant, although a memorial plaque near the pictured Nizhny Novgorod car states 9,063 cars. The Red Army
representatives accepted only 8,174 BA-64s, including 3,390 with radio sets; the other vehicles were transferred to NKVD
units and Soviet allies.
light jeep.
The initial BA-64 model was based upon the GAZ-64
jeep and fitted with sloped armour that had some similarities to the German Sd kfz 222
design. One captured Sd Kfz 222 was transferred to GAZ for examination and analysis on September 7, 1941. The first prototype was tested on January 9, 1942. The hull had many resemblances with sdkfz-234 basic shape, and it had an open roof, with a pintle
-mounted 7.62mm DT machine gun. The vehicle was operated by a crew of two. The next day the BA-64 prototype was shown to Kliment Voroshilov
. The official presentation was in the Kremlin
on March 3, 1942. The State Defence Committee adopted the BA-64 for Red Army service on March 14, 1942. It was top-heavy and could easily overturn on rough terrain.
The improved BA-64B model was introduced in 1943, based on the GAZ-67
B jeep, with a wider wheelbase. This model also had a small machine-gun turret added. The mass production of BA-64Bs continued through the rest of the Second World War and ceased in 1946. The last 62 vehicles were completed in that year.
BA-64Bs were also used by Polish and Czech units, raised in Soviet Union. After the end of the war, some BA-64Bs were transferred to the police of the GDR. There were other post-war transfers of BA-64Bs to North Korea
, China
and Yugoslavia
. The BA-64 remains in use with the Korean People's Army Ground Force.
The major drawback of the BA-64 was its light armament. However, BA-64s were successfully utilised in reconnaissance and liaison missions despite this disadvantage. Another benefit was the high elevation angle of the DT machine gun. In complement with high speed and good manoeuvrability, this allowed BA-64s to be used in urban combat with success against enemy infantry hiding on the upper floors of buildings. Also, BA-64s could return fire to enemy planes. The light firepower of BA-64s was not sufficient for effective destruction of aerial targets, but it limited the enemy's flight freedom and thus helped to reduce the losses of friendly troops.
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
from 1942 into the early 1960s for reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
and liaison tasks.
The BA-64B was nicknamed 'Bobik' by its crews. The total recorded number of BA-64s produced differs even in Russian sources. The most frequently-stated figures are 9,110 (3,901 BA-64 and 5,209 BA-64B) vehicles which were built in the GAZ
GAZ
GAZ or Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod , translated as Gorky Automobile Plant , started in 1932 as NAZ, a cooperation between Ford and the Soviet Union. It is one of the largest companies in the Russian automotive industry....
automobile plant, although a memorial plaque near the pictured Nizhny Novgorod car states 9,063 cars. The Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
representatives accepted only 8,174 BA-64s, including 3,390 with radio sets; the other vehicles were transferred to NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
units and Soviet allies.
Production history
The BA-64 armoured car was a construction initiative of GAZ chief designer V. A. Grachev. Design work started on July 17, 1941. The designer's team also included F. A. Lependin (general layout), G. M. Wassermann (leading engineer), Yu. N. Sorochkin, B. T. Komarevskiy, V. F. Samoilov (armoured hull) and others. On April 10, 1942, Grachev was awarded the Third Grade Stalin Prize for creation of the BA-64 armoured car and GAZ-61GAZ-61
GAZ-61 was a four wheel drive car from USSR manufacturer GAZ first introduced in 1938 by designer V. A. Gratchev, to replace his too-complex model GAZ-M21. Production did not start until 1940. It was made by putting the GAZ M2 body on a four-wheel-drive chassis...
light jeep.
The initial BA-64 model was based upon the GAZ-64
GAZ-64
GAZ-64 was a 4x4 vehicle made by GAZ, succeeding the earlier GAZ-61 which was totally reconstructed in a very short period under the leadership of Vitaliy Grachev and was named GAZ-64. Only 646 GAZ-64 were made between march 1941 and summer 1942. It was succeeded by the more popular GAZ-67 and...
jeep and fitted with sloped armour that had some similarities to the German Sd kfz 222
Leichter Panzerspähwagen
The Leichter Panzerspähwagen were a series of light four-wheel drive armoured cars produced by Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1944....
design. One captured Sd Kfz 222 was transferred to GAZ for examination and analysis on September 7, 1941. The first prototype was tested on January 9, 1942. The hull had many resemblances with sdkfz-234 basic shape, and it had an open roof, with a pintle
Pintle
A pintle is a pin or bolt, usually inserted into a gudgeon, which is used as part of a pivot or hinge.A pintle/gudgeon set is used in many spheres, for example: in sailing to hold the rudder onto the boat; in transportation a pincer-type device clamps through a lunette ring on the tongue of a...
-mounted 7.62mm DT machine gun. The vehicle was operated by a crew of two. The next day the BA-64 prototype was shown to Kliment Voroshilov
Kliment Voroshilov
Kliment Yefremovich Voroshilov , popularly known as Klim Voroshilov was a Soviet military officer, politician, and statesman...
. The official presentation was in the Kremlin
Kremlin
A kremlin , same root as in kremen is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities. This word is often used to refer to the best-known one, the Moscow Kremlin, or metonymically to the government that is based there...
on March 3, 1942. The State Defence Committee adopted the BA-64 for Red Army service on March 14, 1942. It was top-heavy and could easily overturn on rough terrain.
The improved BA-64B model was introduced in 1943, based on the GAZ-67
GAZ-67
The GAZ-67 and the subsequent GAZ-67B were general purpose four wheel drive Soviet military vehicles built by GAZ starting in 1943. By the end of the war, it was the Soviet equivalent of the Willy's Jeep...
B jeep, with a wider wheelbase. This model also had a small machine-gun turret added. The mass production of BA-64Bs continued through the rest of the Second World War and ceased in 1946. The last 62 vehicles were completed in that year.
BA-64Bs were also used by Polish and Czech units, raised in Soviet Union. After the end of the war, some BA-64Bs were transferred to the police of the GDR. There were other post-war transfers of BA-64Bs to North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. The BA-64 remains in use with the Korean People's Army Ground Force.
Variants
- BA-64, initial open-topped production, based on GAZ-64GAZ-64GAZ-64 was a 4x4 vehicle made by GAZ, succeeding the earlier GAZ-61 which was totally reconstructed in a very short period under the leadership of Vitaliy Grachev and was named GAZ-64. Only 646 GAZ-64 were made between march 1941 and summer 1942. It was succeeded by the more popular GAZ-67 and...
- BA-64B, main production with turret, based on GAZ-67GAZ-67The GAZ-67 and the subsequent GAZ-67B were general purpose four wheel drive Soviet military vehicles built by GAZ starting in 1943. By the end of the war, it was the Soviet equivalent of the Willy's Jeep...
B - BASh-64, staff vehicle with a variety of armoured compartments
- BA-64DShK (1944), armed with 12.7mm DShKDShKThe DShK 1938 is a Soviet heavy machine gun firing the 12.7x108mm cartridge. The weapon was also used as a heavy infantry machine gun, in which case it was frequently deployed with a two-wheeled mounting and a single-sheet armour-plate shield...
heavy machine gun - BA-64D (desantniy, prototype only), personnel carrier for six men
- BA-64ZhD (prototype only), two different railcarRailcarA railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
versions with flanged wheels, developed at GAZ and the Vyksunskiy Factory - BA-64SKh (prototype only), half-trackHalf-trackA half-track is a civilian or military vehicle with regular wheels on the front for steering, and caterpillar tracks on the back to propel the vehicle and carry most of the load. The purpose of this combination is to produce a vehicle with the cross-country capabilities of a tank and the handling...
with front skis for travel in snow, based on experimental GAZ-60
Combat history
External links
- BA-64 at Russian BattleField site
- BA-64 armored car at armchairgeneral.com
- Russia's BA-64 Armored Cars at wwiivehicles.com
- Oruzhiye pobedy: Bronevik BA-64 in Avtorevyu No. 8, 2005 (Russian language)—includes photos of a restored BA-64
- BA-64 at Vasiliy Chobitok's ArmorSite (in Russian)
- BA-64 Soviet Armoured Car ( Dresden, Germany) - Walk around photos
- BA-64 Soviet Armoured Car ( Moscow, Russia) - Walk around photos